Combination Chemotherapy Followed by Stem Cell Transplant and Isotretinoin in Treating Young Patients With High-Risk Neuroblastoma

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RATIONALE: Giving chemotherapy before an autologous stem cell transplant stops the growth of tumor cells by stopping them from dividing or by killing them. It also prepares the patient's bone marrow for the stem cell transplant. The stem cells are given to the patient to replace the blood-forming cells that were destroyed by the chemotherapy. Giving isotretinoin after transplant may kill any remaining tumor cells. It is not yet known which combination chemotherapy regimen is more effective when given before a stem cell transplant and isotretinoin in treating neuroblastoma.

PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying two different combination chemotherapy regimens to compare how well they work when given before a stem cell transplant and isotretinoin in treating young patients with high-risk neuroblastoma.

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Ages Eligible for Study:

up to 21 Years (Child, Adult)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Diagnosis of neuroblastoma according to any of the following criteria:

Histological diagnosis from tumor tissue

Presence of distinct neuroblastoma cells in the bone marrow and elevated catecholamine metabolites (HVA, VMA) in blood or urine